With reports of 25 deaths in the aftermath of demonetisation and the poor, marginalised millions barely able to meet basic necessities, BJP spokesperson Ram Madhav rubbished claims of hardship saying the patience of people queueing up outside ATMs and banks is a test of their patriotism.


Senior journalist and former colleague Ivan Crasto, not known to be unpatriotic, spent close to three-hours at the IC Colony branch of HDFC Bank in Mumbai for a demand draft.

The bank has run out of DD forms.

"It's my money and I can't use it," Ivan seethes.

 
When asked if he could come tomorrow, the bank officials told him, they were not sure if the forms would be available then.


A day before PM Modi dropped the demonitisation bomb on November 9, Ivan had withdrawn around Rs 50,000 -- the approximate fees for seven visas to Australia. "My tickets are booked for December 15 and I have to pay the fees to get the visa processing going," he says.

There are as many stories of Indians like Ivan -- upset, harassed, and frustrated -- who only ask for banking systems to function before their patriotism is called into question.